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2 sheets-sheet 1` No. 517,664. Patented Apr. 3, 1894.

me NArloNAL umornAPl-lma COMPANY (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. RUEBEL.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH. No. 57,664/. y Patented Apr. 3, 1894.

lUNITED l STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNST RUEBEL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, SHERMAN B. PIKE, AND WILLIAM N.'MATTHEWS, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,664, dated April 3, 1894.

Application filed September 9, 1893. Serial No. 485,163. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concerm Be it known that I, ERNST RUEBEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Electrical Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspecive View, looking at the under side of myimproved switch, showing the stationary contacts on top of the insulation slab, turned at right-angles to their correct position to more clearly show the same. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of the under side of a cooking utensil, illustrating the terminals of electrodes of an electrical heater with which my improved switch is adapted to co-operate and make contact. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical View in side elevation, showing the switch in its lowermost position and the contacts broken. Fig. 4 is a similar view in cross-section, illustrating the switch in its operative position and in electrical contact with the terminals of the electrodes.v

j treme positions, which means, also, assists in making and breaking the circuit, so that quick contact can be made, and sparks or an arc, which might otherwise be formed, are reduced to a minimum.

Another feature of invention resides in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the terminals of the electrodes, which are adapted to co-operate with the swinging arm and the stationary contact points, as will hereinafter be described.

Other minor features reside in the peculiar construction of the switch and the arrange ment' and combination of the several parts Referring to the drawings, A indicates a slab of insulation material, formed with an opening a, through which the swinging arm is adapted to pass. Located to one side of the opening is a projection B on one side of which, that side nearest the opening, is arranged a series of contact springs B, which are electrically connected, preferably at their 6o lower ends, by a conduction strip h, which strip has connected thereto a Wire O', which has its end grounded or connected to a battery to complete the circuit, when the device is in electr-ical operation.

C indicates a swinging contact arm which is mounted on a shaft D, which shaft has suitable bearings in the ears or projections extending from a frame plate E. This swinging contact arm is preferably in the form 7o shown-z'. e., two radially-extending portions, which are turned concentric to the axis, which concentric portions have their outer ends connected by a cross-piece c, which is adapted to contact with one terminal of an electrode, as will hereinafter appear. The axis of this swinging contact arm is preferably in the form of a cam or a construction such as will present different faces to a contact spring F, mounted upon -an insulation block X and 8o electrically connected with wire G,which contact spring is in electrical connection with the axis of the swinging contact arm only when the same is in one of its extreme positions, such as is illustrated in Fig. 4. This contact spring F is preferably split, as is shown in Fig. l, in order to make a better contact with the cam axle.

In order to retain the swinging Contact arm in each of its extreme positions, and, at the 9c same time, afford a means for quickly making and breaking the circuit through the spring F and the cam axle ofthe arm,I mount upon the rod D a collar H, which is formed with two squared faces, which are adapted to operate in connection with a spring-impelled bolt I, mounted in guide-ways on the frameplate E. These squared faces on the collar H are preferably made adjustablethrough the medium ofv a set screw, and are adapted to roc I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isy 1. In an electrical switch, the combination with a swinging contact arm formed with an axle of irregular shape, of a spring contact located in juxtaposition to said axle and adapted to contact therewith when said axle is in certain of its positions, and rigidly mounted contacts B, with which said swinging arm is adapted to co-operate and make circuit when the spring contacts are in electrical contact with the irregularly shaped axle, substantially as described.

2. In an electrical switch, the combination with a swinging contact arm formed with an axle of irregular shape, of a spring contact located in j uxtaposition to said axle and adapted to contact therewith when said axle is in certain of its positions, a shaft for moving said swinging contact arm, a collar on the shaft formed with squared faces, a spring impelled bolt for co-operating with the squared faces on the collar, and rigidly mounted contacts B with which the swinging arm co-operates when the bolt engages one of the squared faces on the collar, substantially as described.

3. In an electrical switch, the combination with a swinging contact arm formed with a cam-shaped axle, of a split contact spring located in juxtaposition tosaid axle to engage the same when in certain of its positions, a shaft for moving said arm and axle, a collar mounted on the shaft formed with two squared faces forming an apex, a spring impelled bolt having a squared face for engaging and cooperating with the squared faces of the collar whereby theapex is caused to pass the spring impelled bolt and present a dead center for a short time only, and causing the arm to assume either of its extreme positions with accelerated speed, and contacts B with which said arm is adapted to co-operate when in one of its positions and when the split spring is engaging the cam-shaped axle thereof, substantially as described.

4. In an electrical switch, the combination with an insulation slab provided with an opening, of a trapdoor normally closing said opening, a swinging arm mounted below said opening and adapted to be swung up therethrough beyond the trap-door, and suitable contacts located above said trap-door with which the swinging arm is adapted to co-operate, substantially as described.

5. In an electrical switch, the combination with an insulation slab, of a series of spring contacts mounted thereabove, a strip for electrically connecting said contacts, terminals of electrodes which are adapted to be so arranged that one of said terminals will be in electrical connection with said contact springs, and a swinging contact arm, mounted on the under side ot' the slab, which is adapted to pass through an opening in the slab and make contact with the other electrode terminal, substantially as described.

6. In an electrical switch, the combination with an insulation slab having spring contacts rigidly mounted thereon, of an insulation piece 4t, provided with contacts 3 and 6, said latter contacts being in the form of U- shaped springs clasping a conducting strip,a swinging arm mounted on the under side of the slab, which is electrically disconnected when in its lowered position from the source of supply, and means for raising said arm through an opening in the slab so that it will contact with the U-shaped spring and, at the same time, be thrown into electrical connection with the source of supply, substantially as described.-

7 In an electrical switch, the combination with an insulation slab formed with an opening, of a trap-door normally closing said open ing, a swinging contact arm mounted on the under-side of the slab and adapted to be forced up through the opening beyond the trap-door, means for retaining said arm in each of its positions above and below the trapdoor, and a rigidly mounted contact located to one side of the opening and on top of the slab, with which the swinging arm is adapted to co-operate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 1st day of September, 1893. f

ERNST RUEBEL. Witnesses:

F. R. CORNWALL, HUGH K. WAGNER. 

